The Last-Week Checklist for Finishing Your Film

Lock the picture. Decide that the edit is done and stop moving shots around. Changing the picture late can break your sound and titles, so make a firm decision and save a copy of the final project.

Fix the sound. Listen with headphones and then on small speakers. Level out loud and quiet spots so viewers do not reach for the volume. Remove hiss and bumps where you can.

Check the colour. Make sure shots from the same scene look alike. A few small brightness adjustments can help clips feel like they belong together.

Proofread everything on screen. Read titles, credits and subtitles slowly, out loud, one word at a time. Ask someone else to check names, because you will see what you meant to write, not what you wrote.

Export in the right format. Check the submission or screening requirements first, then follow them exactly: file type, size, frame rate and length. Export a test and play it from beginning to end on a different device.

Name the file clearly. Use the film title, your name and a version number, such as Title_Name_v3. A tidy name helps others find it. Make backups. Keep two copies of the final film and the project, in two different places.

Prepare the extras. Write a one-sentence summary, a short description, crew names and a few still frames from the film. You will need them for posters, programs and forms. Celebrate and share. Hold a small screening for the people who helped you. Finishing a film is a real achievement, and the next one will be easier.